Five area teams face elimination in Saturday's second round

Five local football teams have a shot at the quarterfinals on Saturday.

The matchups are set across four different classes in the state tournament. Each game is scheduled for early afternoon, with the winner advancing and the loser going home.

In Class 4A, the No. 10 Dixon Dukes (8-3) travel to face the No. 2 Coal City Coalers (9-1). Dixon has lost to Coal City in the postseason the last two times they have met. The Dukes survived their first-round game against Evergreen Park with a touchdown pass on the final play. Dixon quarterback Jagger Kemp serves as a dual-threat option for the team, which often tries to turn contests into defensive battles. Coal City has held its last four opponents to single-digit scores. That group included a 2A team from Wilmington. Coal City quarterback Connor Henline and running back Logan Natyshok lead the offense. Natyshok has already surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season. The winner of this game will face the victor of the Rochelle versus Aurora Central Catholic match.

Class 3A features a clash between the No. 9 Manteno Panthers (8-3) and the No. 1 Richmond-Burton Rockets (10-0). Manteno has won its last three games by a combined score of 165 to 34. The Panthers have not won a playoff game since 2016. Their three losses this season all came against teams that are currently winning. Richmond-Burton held its opponent to just three points in a 42-3 victory over Princeton. Running back Hunter Carley rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries in that game. His season totals stand at 2,320 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. The Rockets have won 22 of their last 23 games. If Manteno wins, it will host either Sandwich or Hope. If Richmond-Burton wins, it will play one of those teams, either visiting or hosting depending on the specific seedings.

In Class 2A, the No. 8 Peotone Blue Devils (8-2) play the No. 17 Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz (6-5). Eastland-Pearl City upset top-seeded Riverdale in the first round. The Wildcatz finished fifth in the NUIC conference but have shown they can compete with higher-ranked teams. Peotone relies on a rushing attack with three ball carriers averaging at least 8 yards per carry. The Blue Devils defense has held six opponents to single-digit scores. The winner of this contest will face the winner of the Wilmington versus Tri-Valley game.

The Wilmington Wildcats (9-1) host the Tri-Valley Vikings (9-1) in the other Class 2A game. Wilmington beat Farmington in the first round, setting the clock for the entire second half. Running back Dane Van Duyne gained 100 yards on four carries and scored three times. This is the fifth time in six seasons that Wilmington and Tri-Valley have played. Wilmington has won all previous meetings except for a second-round loss in 2022. The winner moves on to the quarterfinals.

Class 1A concludes the slate with the No. 12 Dwight Trojans (8-3) visiting the No. 4 Clifton Central Comets (9-1). Dwight is seeking a third consecutive quarterfinal appearance. The Trojans use a backfield trio of Ayden Collom, Joseph Duffy, and quarterback Collin Bachand. Clifton Central is looking to avenge a second-round loss to Dwight last season. The Comets have scored at least 36 points in every game since their season opener. Sophomore quarterback Cash Minard and running back Everett Bailey are key players for the Comets. The winner of this game will play the victor of the Heyworth versus Fisher matchup.

All five games take place on Saturday. Dixon plays Coal City at 1 p.m. Manteno visits Richmond-Burton at 1 p.m. Eastland-Pearl City hosts Peotone at 2:30 p.m. Wilmington hosts Tri-Valley at 1 p.m. Dwight visits Clifton Central at 3 p.m.